A few drops of breastmilk They can become a key tool for caring for the health of thousands of women. With this idea in mind, the Project Hera takes a leap to the national level and launches a new phase in which it wants to count on the collaboration of breastfeeding mothers from all over the country.
After several years of work in Andalusia, this research program now seeks to 15.000 women who are breastfeeding anywhere in Spain, in order to perfect a test capable of anticipating the risk of postpartum breast cancer based on milk samples. This is a scientific initiative with a strong social focus that aims to improve prevention and early diagnosis in young women.
A pioneering project that is growing from Cordoba to all of Spain
El Hera Project is driven by the Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (Imibic) and has the scientific backing of Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group (GEICAM), one of the leading research networks in this field in Europe. This alliance allows the study to extend beyond Andalusia and be supported by More than 200 specialized centers spread throughout Spain.
The clinical oncologist Juan de la HabaThe project's lead researcher emphasizes that this is an initiative with a strong social component, which can only move forward thanks to the involvement of the public, especially breastfeeding mothers who decide to donate some of their milk. This seemingly simple contribution fuels a line of research that seeks new ways to Detecting postpartum breast cancer before it manifests.
The presentation of the second phase has taken place in the Córdoba City CouncilThe event brought together institutional representatives, healthcare professionals, social organizations, and officials from various research centers and hospitals. It served to demonstrate the joint support of government agencies and organizations for promoting biomedical research focused on... women's health.
The mayor of Córdoba, Jose Maria Bellido, has indicated that this new step in Project Hera will allow speed up research times and shorten by several years the process needed to validate a tool that can reach clinical practice. Along the same lines, the president of the Provincial Council, Salvador Fuentes, has emphasized the provincial institution's commitment to supporting the local scientific talent projects already with a direct impact on the quality of life of the population.
Along with the administrations, the second phase of the project includes the participation of Kutxabank Foundation and of the social initiative #Strong&BraveWomenwho have joined this public-social alliance to strengthen the funding and visibility of the study. This collaboration allows for sustained long-term research while simultaneously maintaining a stable awareness campaign about postpartum breast cancer.
From 3.000 Andalusian mothers to 15.000 donors nationwide
Project Hera is not starting from scratch. Two years ago, the first phase was launched in Andalusia., in which the participation of more than 3.000 breastfeeding mothers, far exceeding initial expectations. Thanks to their involvement, the Cordoba Biobank It currently stores thousands of samples of breast milk that are already being used for the analysis of biomarkers related to postpartum breast cancer.
As Juan de la Haba explained, the work done so far has allowed them to begin identifying possible biological signals present in breast milk which could be associated with a higher risk of developing this type of cancer after childbirth. The next step, which motivates the new national phase, consists of validate those biomarkers with a much larger and more diverse volume of samples.
In this new phase, the goal is to bring together milk samples from 15.000 breastfeeding mothers residents in any autonomous community. They will all use the same paper supporta simple and manageable format that is intended as a basis for the future development of a predictive test similar, in concept, to the cards used in newborn heel prick tests.
The samples already collected during the first phase have begun to yield interesting data. In the analysis of the 3.000 initial donationsThe team has detected several cases with signs consistent with a potentially elevated risk of postpartum breast cancer. These findings reinforce the idea that Breast milk is a very valuable source of information to study this disease and justify expanding the study nationwide.
Behind this effort lies more than a decade of scientific work. The research group of Project Hera has spent years studying the relationship between Pregnancy, breastfeeding and breast cancer, in a line of research that has the support of Carlos III Health Institute, the Andalusian Society of Medical Oncology and a broad network of specialists from different disciplines.
A little-known cancer that mainly affects young women
The focus of Project Hera is on the postpartum breast cancerThis form of the disease, despite its impact, remains poorly understood by the general public and, in some cases, even within the healthcare sector. The data handled by the team indicates that this type of cancer It can appear up to ten years after pregnancy.
In terms of incidence, it is estimated that postpartum breast cancer represents approximately 60% of breast cancer diagnoses in women under 45 years of ageIn other words, it has a very significant impact in cases affecting young women, many of whom are in the midst of raising children and with an intense personal, family, and work burden.
One of the main difficulties is that, frequently, It is detected in relatively advanced stagesThe physiological changes that the breast undergoes during pregnancy and lactation —increased volume, greater density, possible benign nodules— can mask the appearance of tumors or make their early identification more complicated through physical examination or conventional imaging tests.
Scientific evidence accumulated in recent years suggests that profound changes that the breast undergoes during motherhood They create a particular biological environment. Under certain circumstances, this environment could facilitate the emergence or growth of tumor cells. A better understanding of this process is key to designing prevention and early diagnosis strategies adapted to this stage of life.
In this context, the Breast milk has proven to be a material of enormous interest. for research. By analyzing its composition, scientists can look for biomarkers —specific molecules or patterns— that help estimate the risk of developing postpartum breast cancer or detect very early signs of the disease, when it does not yet produce obvious symptoms.
How can a breastfeeding mother collaborate in Project Hera?
One of the keys to the success of this initiative is that the Participation is simple, free, and non-invasive.Mothers interested in volunteering simply need to request an application. donation kit through the project's official website, where the steps to follow and the conditions for participation are detailed.
Once the request is made, the kit is sent to participant's address Or it can be collected at a designated point. The package includes everything needed to make the donation: the materials to collect a few drops of milk on the paper holder, some clear and easy to follow instructions and the envelope for later shipment.
The sample is collected at home, at a time that is most convenient for the mother. Simply place a small amount of breast milk in the provided holder, allow it to dry, and store it according to the instructions. Shipping is via Free postage for the participant, so that the process does not represent an economic or logistical burden.
The project coordinator, Javier CanteroShe emphasizes that it is a procedure designed to easily integrate into families' daily lives, without interfering with breastfeeding routines or requiring unnecessary travel. The goal is for any woman who wants to participate to be able to do so. wherever you are and in total comfort.
Once the samples arrive at the Córdoba Biobank, they are added to the project's collection and processed following strict protocols. quality, security and anonymityThe associated clinical information is handled confidentially and used solely for research purposes, in accordance with data protection regulations and the ethical requirements applicable to biomedical studies.
Other ways to participate beyond milk donation
The Hera Project also opens the door to collaboration with women who They are not currently breastfeeding.but who want to contribute to this line of research. One of the available avenues is participation in a epidemiological study focused on analyzing what factors can influence the appearance of postpartum breast cancer.
This type of study gathers information on aspects such as age at first pregnancy, duration of breastfeeding, family history, lifestyle, and the presence of other illnesses. With this data, researchers can identify risk patterns and to design prevention strategies that are more tailored to the reality of women of childbearing age.
In addition, those who wish to support the project from a more charitable perspective can do so through the #Strong&BraveWomen Solidarity PackA social initiative designed to raise funds and awareness of postpartum breast cancer. This type of collaboration helps sustain the work of the research team and keep the social conversation alive about a disease that still, in many cases, goes unnoticed. too unnoticed.
The involvement of patient associations, women's groups, and third-sector organizations is also proving significant. Their participation helps ensure that information reaches more people and that breastfeeding mothers have access to resources. close references to reduce the stigma or fear that sometimes surrounds breast cancer at young ages.
Broad institutional, health and social support
The presentation of this second phase of the Hera Project, held in the Press Room of the City Council of CórdobaIt brought together a large representation from the institutional, health and social sectors, reflecting the broad consensus generated around the initiative.
The mayor participated on behalf of the Cordoba city council, Jose Maria Bellido; the delegate for Health and Consumer Affairs, Cintia Bustos; and the delegate for Social Services and the Elderly, Eva Contador. From the Provincial Council of Córdoba Their president attended, Salvador Fuentes, and the delegate for Social Rights and president of IPBS, Irene Aguilera, who reiterated the provincial commitment to projects that combine scientific innovation and social return.
La Junta de AndalucÃa It was represented by the territorial delegate of Health, MarÃa Jesús BotellaWhile University of Cordoba She joined the event through the Vice-Rector for Innovation and Transfer, Lourdes Arcehighlighting the connection between academic research and its application in the healthcare system.
Representatives from Imibic, from the Reina SofÃa University Hospital of Córdoba, from the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Cordoba, from the Cordoba Biobank, from primary care teams and the biotechnology company Cobiomic Bioscience, involved in the technological development associated with the analysis of the samples.
The associative fabric was present throughout the Spanish Association Against Cancer and the association AlmamarAmong other entities, they contribute their experience in patient support and awareness campaigns. The presence of the Kutxabank Foundation and the initiative #Strong&BraveWomen She completed a panel that illustrates how breast cancer research can become a shared project by institutions, professionals, and the public.
This entire network of support positions Córdoba as a leading figure in biomedical research applied to women's health, while allowing the impact of Project Hera to gradually extend to the rest of the national territory.
With a focus on the medium and long term, Project Hera aims to transform a few simple drops of breast milk into a an effective tool for anticipating the risk of postpartum breast cancerFollowing an initial phase with over 3.000 donors from Andalusia and the launch of a second phase aiming to reach 15.000 participants across Spain, the initiative is consolidating a collaborative network among breastfeeding mothers, healthcare professionals, research centers, and public and private institutions. If it achieves its objectives, this research could pave the way to new prevention and early diagnosis strategies in young women, at a particularly sensitive time in their lives, reinforcing the idea that science and citizen participation can go hand in hand to improve the health of the whole of society.
